This is the home you've been waiting to see: finally, primetime drama princess Kim Chiu unveils her new house in the pages of StarStudio Magazine!

The 26-page feature carries exclusive photos of the Quezon City home designed for Kim by Joey Sebastian. Peer into Kim's "house-within-a-bedroom". Catch a glimpse of her own mini-theater, her game room, kitchen, her walk-in closet with its collection of designer shoes, dresses and bags and her own private salon and spa and her customized van that's almost like a miniature room on wheels!

Along with the photos, Kim shares the touching story of her tough growing-up years, being abandoned by her mother at 12, dealing with an absentee father, and how all that pushed her to create a better life for her and her siblings.

In another exclusive, Jennylyn Mercado also opens the doors of her home to talk about moving on after her recent heartbreak. Jen also invited the magazine to tag along on a special "day-out" with her son Alex Jazz, and Jazz's father Patick Garcia.

More homes: the Fernandez brothers Rap and Renz, and singer Ronnie Liang talk about home and what it means to them.

StarStudio's July issue also includes a special feature on the URIAN awards, and a folio on today's controversial celebrity romances: Rhian Ramos and Mo Twister, Aiko Melendez and Patrick Meneses, and Andi Eigenmann and Albie Casino.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson are the featured cover stars in the flip cover edition of Candy Magazine July 2011 issue.

Aside from the interesting features about the two stars, this month's issue will also tell you how to boost your cash smarts and how to deal with parents and rules. Ever wonder about your favorite It Girls' bargain secrets? The magazine will also spill them in this issue. You might be surprised to know that you share the same tricks when it comes to hunting for a good bargain.

Candy will also help you survive inside and all-boys school and find the right college for you.

How to bust guy lies, how to find out if your guy friend is in love with you. Plus features on Lauren Young, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Selena Gomez and Shay Mitchell.

Candy Magazine July 2011 issue is now available at all magazine stands, bookstores and selected supermarkets nationwide.

Ruffa Gutierrez was on cloud 9 when she celebrated her birthday in Singapore. Not just it was attended by some of his closest friends who flew all the way to Singapore but most of all, her newest “special someone”...her rumored boyfriend Eduardo Puertas was with her all throughout the celebration.

Eduardo was among the 30-plus special guests from all over the world at Ruffa’s recent 3-day birthday celebration in Singapore.

The cast and crew of the “Harry Potter” movies will be saying goodbye to their characters on Wednesday, July 13, the eve of the premiere of the eighth and final installment of the magical adventure series.

Daniel Radcliffe says he will miss being an action hero, while Emma Watson says she will miss being a role model, reports The Associated Press.

“I don’t really have the natural frame and stature of an action hero,” the modestly sized 21-year-old actor told AP. “So it’s kind of a gift for a young actor to be able to do all that stuff. … Bursting out of the water surrounded by a ring of fire: I will never get to do that again.”

Watson said she was not only going to miss the people, but will also miss being Hermione Granger, the brainy witch that is one of the boy wizard’s best friends.

“I think of her like a sister,” the 21-year-old Watson told AP. “I think she made me a better person, and she made me work harder, just as a result of comparing myself to her every day.”

Rupert Grint, 21, said he felt bereft that the series had ended.

“I have felt a little bit lost without it, really, not really knowing what to do with myself,” the 21-year-old actor, who plays Ron Weasley, Harry Potter’s best friend, said. “It’s been such a constant part of my life.”

Radcliffe, Watson and Rupert Grint have grown up in the films over the past decade, playing young wizards Harry, Hermione and Ron as they progress through Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and fight the dark forces of Lord Voldemort.

Distributed by Warner Bros., “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2” will be released in Philippine theatres and IMAX, in 3D and 2D, beginning July 14, 2011. It is the last installment in Harry’s saga 10 years after the launch of the first film, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” and four years after the publication of the final book in J.K. Rowling’s adventure series.

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) 74th season kicks off with a 2-hour Olympic-style opening ceremony that would gather over 12,000 athletes, program participants, students, alumni and fans today at the Marikina Sports Complex.

All athletes in 15 sports will march around the Marikina Sports Complex track oval to highlight the affair which starts at 4 p.m.

UAAP President Ricky Palou and secretary-treasurer Emmanuel Fernandez will head the guest list that includes Ateneo President Fr. Jett Villarin, the entire UAAP board, the 8 member-schools’ top officials, alumni and students.

Former Ateneo standout and PBA superstar Olsen Racela will light the cauldron to signify the opening of the season that will carry the theme “All Heart. All Out.”

Another highlight of the affair is the solemn entry of colors where the cadets of host school Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) will bring in a 60-x-30-feet flag.

University of Santo Tomas (UST), the perennial general champion, has the most number of athletes who will join the parade with 627, followed by University of the East (UE) with 512.

University of the Philippines (UP) will bring in 425 athletes, De La Salle University (DLSU) with 417, Adamson University with 300, Far Eastern University (FEU) with 300, and National University (NU) with 260.

After it was announced that the upcoming movie of Kathryn Bernardo and Julia Montes will also star AJ Perez and Albie Casiño as their leading man, the movie is now, reportedly, undergoes a major change.

The untimely death of AJ last April 17 prompted Star Cinema to choose young actor Sam Concepcion to take his place.

However, another major change has been done regarding the casting of the movie: Albie has been replaced by Enrique Gil.

According to Star Cinema, the change in the lineup is prompted by their desire to experiment with different combinations for Kathryn and Julia and has nothing to do with rumors involving Albie in Andi Eigenmann's pregnancy.

Kathryn Bernardo and Julia Montes will portray sisters in this Star Cinema movie to be directed by Jerry Lopez Sineneng.

ABS-CBN Corporation, the country’s largest multimedia conglomerate, continues to be the number one TV station in June with an average national audience share of 37% or five points higher than GMA’s 32%, according to recent data from Kantar Media.

ABS-CBN continues to dominate the homes of Filipinos in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao in the viewer-rich primetime block (6 PM to 12MN), where advertisers invest 75% of their TV ad spending, with a national audience share of 44% or 15 points higher than GMA’s 29%.

ABS-CBN remains as the country's number 1 network for the first half of 2011 with 36% against GMA's at 34% in total day shares. The lead has grown wider quarter on quarter with ABS-CBN's 36% vs GMA's 35% in the first quarter, and ABS-CBN pulling away with 37% vs GMA's 32% by the second quarter.

The Kapamilya Network’s primetime teleserye “Mara Clara,” which Filipinos followed religiously through the months until its intense finale last month, topped the list of most watched regular programs for June with an average rating of 38.6%

“100 Days to Heaven,” currently the top running weekday program, captivated audiences with its storyline and superb acting performances with 34%. This was followed by weekend top-rater “Maalaala Mo Kaya” with 30.8%

“TV Patrol,” on the other hand, is still the undisputed number one newscast in the country with an average TV rating of 27.5% or nine points higher than GMA’s “24 Oras” (18.7%).

ABS-CBN’s airing of the NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks garnered a record-high average national TV rating of 19.1%, considered to be very strong for a morning block airing. By airing on ABS-CBN, the NBA finals reached more Filipino viewers and enjoyed its strongest TV ratings performance in recent years.

In the Visayas, ABS-CBN primtime pulled away with a 65% audience share vs GMA’s 17% while in Mindanao, ABS-CBN’s audience share averaged 62% vs GMA’s 15%. The Visayas and Mindanao are certified Kapamilya territories as their top 35 most watched regular programs are all ABS-CBN programs.

ABS-CBN shifted to Kantar Media/TNS after filing a case vs. AGB Nielsen Media Research for failing to comply with its request to investigate alleged cheating and data tampering in TV ratings. The case is still pending in court.

ABS-CBN registered a consolidated net income of P976 million in the first three months of 2011, while GMA Network reported a P534 million net income in the same period.

ABS-CBN’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization or EBITDA hit P2.1 billion in the first quarter of 2011 while GMA Network’s EBITDA was P926 million. ABS-CBN delivered consolidated revenues of P6.6 billion from advertising and consumer sales.

At long last, after 5 years in the making, director Quark Henares’s RAKENROL is finally coming out.

The much-anticipated movie is Henares and co-writer Diego Castillo’s (guitarist of Sandwich and music video director) ode to the Philippine rock music scene, which both consider their home.

In the film, Irene (Glaiza de Castro, Grazilda, Amaya) and Odie (Jason Abalos, Endo, Mara Clara) are outsiders who become best friends because of their common love for Rock n’ Roll. Odie eventually falls in love with Irene, and helps fulfill her dreams of forming a band. They eventually recruit an ex-punk-turned-barista named Mo (Ketchup Eusebio, Guns and Roses, My Amnesia Girl) and the school bully Junfour (Alwyn Uytingco, Imortal, Ang Tanging Ina movies), eventually deciding to call their band HAPIPAKS. In the process, Irene is wooed by her “all-time supercrush”, the famous rockstar Jacci Rocha (Diether Ocampo), and the one thing that brought her and Odie together might end up destroying them. The supporting characters add color and humor to the cast, with Ramon Bautista as the music video director Flame Tigerblüden, Ricardo Cepeda as a samurai marketing guru, Jun Sabayton as Mo’s artist roommate, Hiyasmin Neri as Junfour’s pregnant girlfriend, and Matet de Leon as... Matet de Leon.

RAKENROL is Henares’s fifth film, the director having done everything from internationally-acclaimed cult films (Keka) to big-budget Metro Manila Filmfest movies (Super Noypi). This, however, is his most personal film, and he’s glad to collaborate with one of his closest friends on the project. “Diego and I have probably done everything music-wise together,” the young fimmaker says, “we’ve hosted radio shows, co-directed videos, we’ve written articles about music. We were even in a band together once!” Castillo reveals that the film is very autobiographical. “We’re both from and into the local music industry and I guess a lot of our mutual friends started off in the scene and we both thought it would be a good idea to chronicle the things that we’ve seen over the years,” he says.

RAKENROL will come out in theaters on August 10, but even now it’s had its fair share of international critical acclaim. The film has already screened in Italy (Udine Far East Film Festival), Los Angeles (Asia Pacific Film Festival) and San Francisco, and has been invited to international film festivals in Hawaii, Göteborg, San Diego and New York. In LA it won the Audience Choice award, and the top Asian film site Film Business Asia called the film "a lightly comic charmer that's sustained by its likeable leads and easygoing, big-hearted style." (Derek Elley)

RAKENROL - Full Movie Trailer:

RAKENROL will be making its premiere as the closing film of Cinemalaya, on July 23, 2011 at 9pm. There will also be a concert at Harbour Square at the CCP Complex, featuring Itchyworms, Ciudad, Taken by Cars, Pedicab, Techy Romantics, Halik ni Gringo and Arigato Hato. Tickets are available through Ticketnet, just call 911-5555 for inquiries.

New TV series “Teen Wolf” unleashed across Asia via AXN Beyond, premieres in the Philippines on July 17.

American daily ‘New York Post’ has hailed this TV drama series as “the best new teen/adult crossover series since Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, while US magazine ‘Entertainment Weekly’ praised it for being “good fun, well-written, and well-acted”. And that new show is none other than Teen Wolf, which is set to be unleashed across Asia on AXN Beyond!

Casting its spotlight on the sexy and furry species, new TV drama series Teen Wolf will take fans from across the region to the wild side with a brand new werewolf-human romance adventure with lots of bite.

Beginning on Sunday, 17 July at 9pm on AXN Beyond, Teen Wolf will also be simulcast on AXN and Animax in a premiere event. Subsequent episodes broadcast exclusively on AXN Beyond on Mondays at 9pm, which will be the show’s regular broadcast day and time, starting from 18 July.

Teen Wolf comes to viewers in the region in just over a month after its premiere in the U.S. Inspired by the 80s comedic movie of the same title starring Michael J. Fox, Teen Wolf has been given a contemporary spin and completely re-imagined into an edgy, action-packed and thrilling TV series.

Teen Wolf stars Tyler Posey (Lincoln Heights, Brothers and Sisters) as Scott McCall, an unnoticed outsider yearning to be recognized in some small way to take him out of his typical state of high school anonymity. When his best friend, Stiles Stilinski (Dylan O’Brien, High Road), convinces him to go into the woods one night to join a police search for a dead body, Scott encounters a creature in the darkness. Narrowly surviving its attack with a vicious bite to his side, Scott awakes the next day to strange surprises and his life is never the same again.

Acquiring superhuman wolf-like abilities, Scott now hears things he should not be able to hear, sees with startling accuracy, and moves with incredible reflexes. Usually a bench warmer, Scott with his newfound powers, becomes a first team player for the school lacrosse team, outdoing even the top player Jackson Whittemore, played by actor-model Colton Haynes (The Gates). Sparking the interest of Lydia Martin (Holland Roden, Lost) the most popular girl in school, Scott falls instead for Allison Argent, the mysterious new girl in town played by Crystal Reed (Skyline).

Not only does Scott have to suppress his wolfish instincts and urges, he has to contend with other werewolves, including Derek Hale (Tyler Hoechlin, Road to Perdition, 7th Heaven), the more experienced and dangerous werewolf thought to be responsible for the life-changing bite. And as the story unfolds, Scott will have to fight a family of werewolf hunters, the leader who turns out to be Allison’s father…

With a forbidden romance set against the drama of high school life, Teen Wolf follows a dark, riveting plot and delves into themes of self-discovery, struggles and angst among its teenage characters coming into their own. Topped by an attractive, young and fresh-faced cast line-up, Teen Wolf has all the makings of the next big TV series in the massively popular supernatural action-romance genre.

Helmed by Australian director Russell Mulcahy (Highlander) and executive produced by Jeff Davis, creator of the original Teen Wolf movie in 1985, the TV series is proving to be a ratings hit on cable television in the US. Spot on for its target teen and young adult audiences, Teen Wolf’s premiere drew some 2.18 million viewers. In its fourth week, the series recorded a 23 per cent growth in its 12 – 34 year old audiences and was the top-rated show in its timeslot among women of the same demographic group.

With all the ingredients of a hit show coming together in a fresh and sexy thriller of the supernatural kind, viewers can expect a wild and exciting good time with Teen Wolf, howling this July only on AXN Beyond.

This Sunday, July 10, Kapuso viewers will have another chance to watch the pilot week of GMA Network's new family drama series with a TV special titled "Futbolilits Ulit" airing right before Party Pilipinas.

Futbolilits is led by action star-turned-comedian-turned-celebrity dad Raymart Santiago.

The show delves into the colorful world of football which also serves as a treat to all football fanatics in the country especially now there's a growing interest and appreciation for the sport.

GMA chose three talented child actors to be part of the Futbolilits Team: Yogo Singh as Kikoy, Renz Valerio as Sherwin, and Isabel "Lenlen" Frial as Tetang.

ABS-CBN’s News and Current Affairs division and TV Entertainment Group have joined forces for the very first time on a new reality show on Philippine TV, “I Dare You,” which is set to change the views and lives of famous and ordinary Kapamilya starting Monday, July 11.

Hosted by award-winning actor Jericho Rosales, versatile actress and host Iya Villania, and comedy princess Melai Cantiveros, “I Dare You” will test the resilience and determination of celebrity Kapamilya challengers, who will carry-out a series of challenges in order to help win a reward for ordinary Filipinos worthy of the title, “Bidang Kapamilya.”

The “Bidang Kapamilya” are everyday Pinoys who bravely face life’s challenges no matter how hard they get. They are the market vendors, the teachers in far-flung areas, the laborers, stuntmen, garbage and junk collectors, farmers, senior citizens, people with disability, among others.

Celebrity Kapamilya challengers will enter their world and experience their lives first hand to understand their way of life and to also to help win a reward for them by beating other celebrities in the challenge.

In the first episode of “I Dare You,” popular dancer and theater actor Gab Valenciano and multi-awarded actress Alessandra De Rossi will join Jericho in his return to his roots in Marikina, where he carried loads and sold fish in a wet market.

This is the first time the public gets to see Gab and Alessandra without the make-up, without their assistants and performing without any “cuts” or “take-twos.” Viewers will also hear Jericho’s inspiring rags-to-riches story, as told and demonstrated by the actor himself.

Jericho clarified that though the celebrities will have to dress down and work, it is not the goal of the program to deglamorize them. He said the stars are actually given the opportunity to show who they really are behind the camera and away from the limelight.

In an interview with www.push.com.ph he explained, “Our program works both ways. The ordinary people get to see the real emotions of the artists, and the artists get to see how an ordinary person lives.”

Iya added that the celebrity Kapamilya challengers aren’t the only ones who will get inspiration from the real-life and unscripted drama featured in the show. She said viewers will also learn from the experiences of the “Bidang Kapamilya” and the celebrities.

“I Dare You is here to inspire and challenge people to face their personal trials, just like what our Kapamilyas are doing no matter how difficult their lives are already,” she said.

Meanwhile, although “I Dare You” is filled with heart-tugging stories, viewers can also expect light and funny moments courtesy of Melai, who will join her close friends Jericho and Iya in guiding celebrity Kapamilya challengers.

“I am the wacky, naughty, and less serious host in the show,” said the former Pinoy Big Brother Big Winner. Like Jericho and Iya, Melai said she appreciates the depth of this project.

“Our hosting here is full of heart and purpose,” she said.

I Dare You- Trailer:

Join Jericho Rosales, Iya Villania, and Melai Cantiveros as they put the focus on Filipinos who do not back down from life’s challenges in “I Dare You,” from Monday to Friday beginning July 11, before “Mula sa Puso” on ABS-CBN.

”Rise of the Planet of the Apes” combines fantastic storytelling with the next leap in Visual Effects for an emotional and action-packed picture experience unlike any other. Man’s arrogance sets off a chain of events that leads to intelligence in apes and a challenge to our place as the dominant species on the planet. Caesar, the first intelligent ape, is betrayed by humans and rises up to lead his species’ spectacular freedom and the ultimate showdown with man. In Caesar, the Oscar-winning visual effects team behind Avatar – have created a CGI ape that delivers a dramatic performance of unprecedented emotion and intelligence.

Set in present day San Francisco, the film is a reality-based cautionary tale where man’s experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy. Amidst the confusion of his study’s sudden termination, scientist Will Rodman (James Franco) secretly raises a young chimpanzee named Caesar (Andy Serkis) as his own, at home, while caring for his ailing father. Due to exposure in Will’s miracle drug, young Caesar displays intelligence and behaviors unusual for an ape of any age. Inspired by his observation of Caesar’s unexpected gifts, Will, against his better judgment privately continues his research at home, using his father and Caesar as test subjects. But he soon discovers, it has taken him – and ultimately the entire human race – on a ruinous path.

As Caesar matures, his highly-developed intelligence is countered by the aggressive and dangerous protective instincts typical of adult male apes. Caesar soon becomes too much for Will to handle. Parting reluctantly with Caesar, Will takes the chimp to a simian sanctuary where he could be among his kind. Though not the physically strongest ape in the facility, Caesar quickly realizes that in order to survive he must assert his intellectual dominance over his new environment. Caesar soon prevails over the other apes, and at a pivotal and electric moment, Caesar stands up to retaliate against their cruel human handlers.

As Weta Digital utilized its state-of-the-art tools to render photo-realistic apes, the world’s foremost performance capture artist, actor Andy Serkis, came aboard the project to infuse Caesar with nuance, emotion, soul, wisdom and heart. Serkis’ contributions to the movie cannot be overestimated, says Wyatt: “Andy Serkis is our generation’s Charlie Chaplin. By that I mean he’s one of the very few actors around who has fully embraced the available visual effects technology because he completely understands the full potential of what it can achieve. I think some actors are intimidated by performance capture because they think it’s separating their performance from the actual reality of the film, when quite the opposite is true. Andy understands that every little nuance – every breath, every little muscle movement that he gives on camera is visual exposition. Film is primarily a visual medium and if you are able to have your character tell a story with a minimal amount of words, then that’s ideal.”

Caesar’s character arc takes the chimp from a newborn to an adult and the leader of a revolution. Serkis, who gave acclaimed performances as Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and as Kong in King Kong, notes that “Caesar is one of the most formidable roles I’ve undertaken, both physically and emotionally. It’s one thing to play a chimpanzee, but to play one from infancy to adulthood – and a revolutionary leader – well, that’s quite another. But it was irresistible to me as an actor.”

By the film’s second act, “Caesar becomes a prisoner,” says Serkis. “He gets taken away from a loving environment and feels rejected. He’s questioning his identity. Then he finds the strength to lead and unite the other apes and I think it’s then that he moves into kind of the third stage… which is the revolution. He uses his intelligence to galvanize these apes and then his strength and power to lead them. It’s an extraordinary journey for me, as an actor.”

Weta Digital devised a new portable performance capture rig, which could be set up in different kinds of locations. For the first time ever, notes visual effects supervisor Dan Lemmon, “we were able to get those performances in direct sunlight.”

Weta Digital’s – and the entire production’s – biggest challenges came during the filming of the film’s climax, which unfolds on, above, along and beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. The scene, depicting an epic battle between man and primate, features elaborate stunts, fire, explosions, helicopters, hundreds of cars and extras, and an atmospheric San Francisco fog – as well as the culmination of all the drama, emotion and character interactions.

This scene and the film’s other big set pieces are always in the service of its emotional core and resonant themes. Sums up Andy Serkis: “It doesn’t feel like a visual effects-driven film. It feels like a powerful emotional story with a big backdrop. The action and spectacle work seamlessly with the drama. And that’s why I think it’s really powerful – because the ‘wows’ aren’t in your face. It’s all about finding realism and truth.”

“Rise of the Planet of the Apes” opens August 4 in more than 100 cinemas from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Steve Jobs approved the release of his first autobiography titled "Steve Jobs."

The publisher, Simon and Schuester, originally wanted to title the book "iSteve: The Book of Jobs," but author Walter Isaacson wasn't too keen on the puns, so he decided to keep it simple.

Isaacson, who has also written biographies of Henry Kissinger, Benjamin Franklin, and Albert Einstein, conducted "exclusive and unprecedented" interviews with Jobs for the book, which is being touted as the "definitive portrait of the greatest innovator of his generation." It'll give readers an in-depth look into Jobs' extraordinary career, his family, and his increasing health concerns as he continues to battle pancreatic cancer.

Set to hit shelves on March 6, 2012, the book can now preorder on Amazon for a huge discount.

A recently recovered 12-second recording of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" from the first-ever talking doll could also be the first-ever commercial recording, historians said after the audio was posted online by the National Parks Service Wednesday.

The said recording, captured on a ring-shaped cylinder phonograph, was produced for Thomas Edison's failed talking-doll business venture in 1888. The recording eventually found its way to Jerry Fabris, museum curator of the Thomas Edison National Historical Park, who thought that the hopelessly bent, 123-year-old artifact was condemned to eternal muteness.

Then, a few years ago, Fabris saw engineer Carl Haber give a presentation on a new 3-D scanning technology for old records at a conference held by the Association for Recorded Sound Collections. Fabris brought the tin recording, long since separated from the rest of the doll, to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where on May 11 Haber and another scientist successfully reproduced the audio.

"That was really exciting," Fabris said, of "arguably the first commercial recording, the earliest documented example of anyone hiring someone to make records, to perform on records, that would then be sold."

"I was hoping to hear Edison, but I was happy to hear any kind of voice," Fabris said.

Patrick Feaster, a historian of the early phonograph, added that the recording has "a number of different significances."

"This was the very first case of a professional recording for an audience - before it had really been done only for the novelty," Feaster said. "This is the first instance of someone doing it to earn some money, and that's a pretty big first."

Still, while acknowledging Edison's invention was a breakthrough, Paul Israel, director of the Edison Papers at Rutgers University, noted that Edison's project was a commercial bust.

"While it was a very clever idea, both the doll and the recording were a bit too fragile and complicated for children to use," Israel said, adding that the recent discovery indicates that the sound from the dolls was "not terribly clear."

"You can imagine that the women making these recordings had to shout into the cylinder - and that comes across in the (recovered audio)."

Feaster said that new technologies such as the one used by Haber were giving historians a new ability to, quite literally, listen to the past.

"It gives us a better understanding of the nature of the technical development of recorded sound; with this recording of the toy doll we have a much better sense of what these recordings sounded like," Feaster said. "Until you hear it, can't have a sense of what it sounded like."

Fabris added that the recording marks a key moment in the history of early sound technology.

"It was an interesting time, with Edison trying to move the phonograph from a laboratory invention to the marketplace, from an invention to an industry," Fabris said. "That was always his stated goal: to invent practical things that could be useful."

The search for the country’s best acts continues as ABS-CBN does a back-to-back season of the phenomenal hit Got Talent, a first for the worldwide franchise, and brings you “Pilipinas Got Talent" Season 3 beginning this Saturday, July 9.

Following the victory of Marcelito Pomoy two weeks ago, the country’s number one talent-reality show once again fanned to different parts of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao to discover more exciting acts.

This season, "Pilipinas Got Talent" visited more than 40 provinces and witnessed thousands of Filipinos giving their best at the auditions.

Judges Kris Aquino and Freddie M. Garcia expressed their thoughts and expectations as they do the tedious job of judging all these acts for the third time.

“PGT went the extra mile in season 2 because we have been to many places. In season 3, we will triple the number of places we will go to scout for talents. That’s what I’m really looking for in Season 3 that in every part of the country, we’ve got talent,” said Queen of all Media Kris Aquino.

“I am happy with the outcome of season 2 as we really found somebody who is realty amazing in the person of Marcelito. In Season 3, I hope our grand winners will give inspiration to people who’s got talent to come forward and really show what they can do for our country,” shared ‘the expert’ Freddie M. Garcia.

"Pilipinas Got Talent" fans are definitely excited to see what new and exciting acts they will see in season three. Who will be this season’s grand winner and win P2 million?

Watch as Filipinos’ once again pursue their dreams, show what they got, and reach for success in “Pilipinas Got Talent” season 3 every Saturday, 9 PM, and Sunday, 8:30 PM, together with Luis Manzano and Billy Crawford as hosts, on ABS-CBN.

A new social order is about to take place on August 4 threatening humans in the event-movie “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” starring James Franco (127 Hours), Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) and Tom Felton (Harry Potter).

Orchestrated by director Rupert Wyatt and Peter Jackson’s filmmaking empire Weta Digital, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” breaks anew new grounds in moviemaking history using photorealistic apes instead of actors in costumes exposed to natural setting. Pushing the boundaries beyond movie making techniques used in James Cameron’s “Avatar,” the movie is a completely new take on 20th Century Fox’s most beloved and successful franchises. Owing much of its genesis to Avatar, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” for the first time uses technology that allows audiences to emotionally engage with a lead character, a chimpanzee named Caesar (portrayed by Andy Serkis, ’Lord of the Rings’ trilogy’s Gollum), who does not actually exist.

James Franco plays Will Rodman caught in the middle of an epic battle where the upended destinies of man and primate meet. As a scientist working within a large pharmaceutical corporation, Gen-Sys, conducting generic research to develop a benign virus that restores damaged human brain tissue, Will is committed to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease that afflicts his father, Charles (John Lithgow). When Will’s research test subjects suddenly display bizarrely aggressive behavior, the company shuts down his program.

Will finds himself charged with an overlooked newborn male chimpanzee most promising of his test subjects destined for greatness named Caesar. Will secretly raises young Caesar as his own, at home, while caring for his ailing father. As the story progresses, he becomes more of a person and less of a scientist. This in turn leads Will to Caroline (Pinto), a primatologist who serves as Caesar’s vet, and who becomes a key player in both their lives.

“Rise of the Planet of the Apes is about our civilization reaching a point of no return,” says director Rupert Wyatt. “Events unfold through the eyes of Caesar, a super-intelligent chimpanzee who at a young age sees humans as being capable of wonderful things, like art and reason. And then he begins to see humanity’s dark side – oppression, bigotry, and the ostracizing of what and who we don’t understand. Another key theme is humanity’s hubris – our arrogance in thinking that we can twist, push, cheat, or circumvent the laws of nature, without consequences. The movie pits humans against nature – and against themselves – leading to a resolution that sees humans and apes on the path that will take them to a new and shocking world order.”

“The film taps into our most primal fear of the Alpha of our planet being usurped – literally letting another species take over the world – and asks how would that play out,” concludes Rupert Wyatt.

“Rise of the Planet of the Apes” opens in more than 100 screens across the Philippines from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Young heartthrobs Sam Concepcion, Enrique Gil, James Reid, and Ivan Dorschner are feeling extra inspired and romantic with the love stories they get to be part of in the top-rating youth oriented program “Good Vibes” on ABS-CBN.

In an interview, television’s hottest male teen stars held nothing back as they reveal how they make the girls fall in love, in real life.

Sam, who plays Marc in the show, said he shares his character’s persistence and determination when pursuing a girl. However, this doesn’t mean he goes out of his way to try to impress her.

“I just be myself. I think the best way to catch a girl’s attention is if you just be yourself and say things from the heart,” he said.

In the program, Marc is still trying to make it up to his ex-girlfriend Monique, played by Coleen Garcia. On the side, he gets a little distracted after his friend Ara (Yen Santos) admitted her feelings for him.

Enrique, meanwhile, still prefers asking the girl out first for dinner dates. He said he is not so much of a “flowers” guy, but he likes giving memorable gifts like a necklace, ring, or bracelet.

If the girl’s parents are strict, he said this is what should be done. “If I were to spend time with her, it would be with her family,” he shared.

Enrique’s character Troy is set to showcase his courtship skills as he begins to woo Geleen (Linn Oeymo). He also decided to remain best friends with Maribeth (Devon Seron), who is being “cornered” by not one, but two guys.

One of them is Gab, played by Ivan Dorschner. Ivan said his style is different from his character, and more like Gab’s rival, Spencer (James Reid). “Sinisigurado namin ang sincerity namin para less chance tayo magkakamali,” he said.

The hunky former Pinoy Big Brother housemate added he knows there’s a possibility for him to fall for a girl when they always have interesting conversations. “I call it M3, ‘Malay Mo Ma-develop,” he revealed.

James, meanwhile, does not believe in courtship and serenading girls before they start hanging-out. The Australian born and raised looker said he isn’t like Spencer who will resort to almost anything to get the girl’s attention.

“My style is very chilled. Usually, I only give gifts if they are meaningful to the girl. However, I like having a sweet beginning to a relationship,” he explained.

Witness their alter egos work their ways to their girls’ hearts in the program, where more plots are set to open as the characters continue to grow up and encounter different experiences.

Marc and Monique will share a dramatic moment, as the former hints of finally letting go after trying to get Monique back. Troy, meanwhile, gets to be closer to Geleen as she jumps ship to his crew, the Bustamoves for the Pilipinas Dance Challenge.

Maribeth will then discover Ara’s secret that will drive the two closer. With Marc and Spencer getting into the picture, will this little secret finally be exposed?

Stay tuned for all the kilig vibes you can handle on “Good Vibes” this Sunday, July 10, after “ASAP Rocks” on ABS-CBN.

Catch Piolo Pascual, John Lloyd Cruz, Jericho Rosales, Sam Milby, Billy Crawford and Gary Valenciano as they go head to head with ASAP’s Ultimate Girls Toni Gonzaga, Maja Salvador, Nikki Gil, Kim Chiu, Shaina Magdayao and the highly anticipated return of the one and only Pop Star Princess Sarah Geronimo. Find out who will reign supreme this Sunday.

Former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Vice Chairman and General Manager Rosario Uriarte confirmed on Thursday that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo approved the conversion of P150 million into an intelligence fund five months before the 2010 elections.

During the continuation of the Senate blue ribbon inquiry into the PCSO fund scam on Thursday, Uriarte admitted former President Arroyo has actually approved a total of P195 additional intelligence fund from 2008 to 2010.

“Yes your honor,” Uriarte said when asked by Senator Franklin Drilon to confirm the signatures of former President as well as the Malacañang bar codes as shown on the five memoranda that gave the go signal for the release of the funds to Uriarte.

Uriarte told the panel that she was even present when former President Arroyo personally signed four of the six memoranda even as she claimed that she was close with the former leader since early 80s.

Uriarte said the intelligence funds have been used for the conduct of surveillance, discreet investigations, purchase of information and other related activities in connection with the PCSO’s experimental test run for the Small Town Lottery (STL) project.

When asked by Senator Panfilo Lacson who was the PCSO intelligence project officer, Uriarte said she handled the project to the surprise of the members of the Senate panel investigating the PSCO fund scam.

“This is not right way to handle an intelligence project,” Lacson, a former military colonel and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, said.

An earthquake registering 5.6 shook the Pacific off Honshu, Japan, the U.S. Geological Survey said Thursday. That is the area of northeast Japan ravaged by a March 11 quake and tsunami that knocked out power at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

No immediate damage or casualties were reported from the quake that struck at 3:35 a.m. Friday, the USGS said. No tsunami watch was immediately issued.

The epicenter of the quake was some 51 miles (83 kilometers) southeast of Fukushima, in Honshu, Japan, the USGS said. The quake was centered some 28 miles (45 kilometers deep, the agency said.

The March 11 quake was magnitude 9.0, triggering a disaster that devastated Japan's northeastern coast, destroying towns, homes and businesses. More than 22,600 people are dead or missing.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Elizabeth Smart is taking a job with ABC News as a commentator focusing on missing persons and child abduction cases.

The Utah woman who was kidnapped from her bedroom at knifepoint, raped and held captive at age 14 by a Salt Lake City street preacher can provide viewers with a unique perspective, network spokeswoman Julie Townsend told The Associated Press on Thursday.

A deal with the now 23-year-old has been the works for several months and she could be on the air within the next few weeks, Townsend said.

"We think she'll help our viewers better understand missing persons stories," Townsend said in a telephone call from New York City. "This is someone with the perspective to know what a family experiences when a loved one goes missing."

Smart was kidnapped from her family home in the dead of night on June 5, 2002, by Brian David Mitchell, an itinerant street preacher whose writings have revealed he took the blond-haired, blue-eyed girl so he could practice polygamy.

Mitchell, 56, was convicted in December on federal charges of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor across state lines for sex. He was sentenced in May to life in federal prison without parole.

"Lady Antebellum" lead singer Hillary Scott and her boyfriend of one year "Love and Theft" drummer Chris Tyrrell got engaged on the 4th of July, when the 24-year-old drummer proposed to 25-year-old singer at sunset at a lake in eastern Tennessee.

"Chris proposed exactly the way I''ve always dreamed... Our families were close by, but it was just us out on a beautiful deck overlooking a lake in East Tennessee.

"We had just been on a hike and - in our workout clothes - he hit the knee! We feel so blessed by God that He sent us each other, and we are looking so forward to forever together," said Scott.

The couple, who has not yet set a date for their nuptials, met and started going out in 2010 when they met on the Tim McGraw tour.

The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Indiana University student Lauren Spierer continues as the body found in Fall Creek on Sunday has been ruled out as a match for the 20-year-old, who has been missing since June 3. The identity of the person found in the creek remains unknown.

The discovery of the unknown female's body comes on the heels of another plea by Spierer's parents, Rob and Charlene Spierer, for information regarding their daughter's disappearance. Police have admitted that they have not received any viable tips regarding the missing student in weeks.

Spierer's disappearance initially drew the cooperation of more than 1,000 volunteers organized by Spierer's parents, who combed parts of the campus and Bloomington itself for days before being sent home. Some 1,500 tips have been called into police, but other than an initial lead on a white vehicle that appears now to have no relevance to the case, they have all led nowhere.

The lack of clues as to the whereabouts of the missing student has brought increasing pressure on the local police department, which has refused to say whether or not they believe that Spierer is even still alive. In the meantime, they have been quietly conducting searches of various places of interest, including her boyfriend's apartment and that of Jay Rosenbaum, who is widely believed to have been the last person to see her alive.

Journalists have been conducting interviews of their own with Spierer's friends and fellow students, in the hopes of unraveling the mystery surrounding her disappearance. Criticism has been lobbed at both the police department, for failing to conduct interviews and searches fast enough, and at Spierer's parents, who continue to make public pleas that, to some, appear to be directed at particular people or groups that remain unnamed.

The body of the unknown female found in Fall Creek on Sunday was thought to be either that of Spierer or missing local great-grandmother Dorothy Heard. Both women disappeared last month. However, police have now said they have yet another investigation on their hands, as the initial autopsy reports appear to indicate that the woman was black. Spierer and Heard are white.

Quentin Tarantino has reportedly commissioned Jamie Foxx to play the title role of his upcoming film "Django Unchained."

"I think, just to be able to work with Quentin Tarantino and Samuel Jackson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and to be able to tell a story that needs to be told," Foxx told CNN, explaining why he took the role. "If you're a fan of, I mean, you know - it's just amazing. It should be an amazing thing."

Django (Foxx) is a freed slave who tries to rescue his long-lost love, Broomhilda, from a plantation owner, Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), with the help of a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz).Samuel L. Jackson is also included in the cast as Candie's slave, Stephen, while Kerry Washington is in talks to play Broomhilda.

Ever since Angeline Quinto emerged as Star Power's first female pop superstar, intrigues between her and former rival Sarah Geronimo have never stopped, requests from fans for a singing face-off have always surfaced.

As many people know, the two vied for the title Star For A Night, a prestigious singing competition in 2002 hosted by Regine Velasquez on IBC-13.

Recent reports have even stated that there's a possibility that Sarah and Angeline may not perform together in ASAP Rocks in order to put a stop to such issues and comparisons.

Though we may not be seeing the two of them onstage anytime soon, we have seen them together in a TV commercial that has aired recently.

Angeline Quinto, who is a new endorser of Belo Essentials, joins Sarah Geronimo, the brand's faithful endorser for three years now, in a campaign called "BELOfied! The Belo Essentials Beauty Makeover."

Sarah and Angeline have been "BELOfied," and together, they tell all the Filipina women that they, too, have a chance to go from dreamer to dream girl.

"BELOfied" will grant four girls' wish to be transformed by the Belo Authority as this promo would give each of them a P150,000 beauty makeover which includes the following: P50,000 worth of non-invasive services from the Belo Medical Group; P50,000 worth of clothes and fashion styling from Chocolate Clothing; P30,000 worth of hairstyling and makeup from Creations Salon by Lourd Ramos; and P20,000 worth of personality development lessons from Modern Academy.

In its pilot episode last Saturday, July 2, Spooky Nights had a 23.1% rating among Mega Manila households based on overnight data provided by Nielsen TV Audience Measurement. On the other hand, its rival program scored a far 15.9%.

Aside from leading in its time slot, Spooky Nights also ranked second, next to top-rater Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, among all the high-rating programs on the same date.

Nuno sa Feng Shui gets more exciting and suspenseful in the next episode as Mila (Claudine) takes a chance to have her curse lifted by fulfilling the condition of the nuno: get 3 strands of hair from Stephen’s (TJ Trinidad) head, nose, and underarm.

Can Mila meet all of the nuno’s requirements? Will her oversized thighs ever become normal? Can her knowledge in Chinese astrology help her have a happy life with Stephen?

Watch the ending of Spooky Nights Presents: Nuno sa Feng Shui this Saturday, July 9, and expect another two-part Claudine Barretto special to air next week, July 16.

The talented actress, singer, model, VJ, painter and designer is chosen as the new ‘Wolf Mate’ ambassador for the fresh TV drama series, Teen Wolf.

She’s in huge fashion spreads, on billboards and is gracing some of the biggest events in town. She’s on TV and is about to release her new music album. Yet, the ‘It’ girl of the moment is not stopping there. Solenn Heussaff is unleashing her charms, talents and even her wild side from July on cable television channel AXN Beyond!

The talented actress, singer, model, VJ, painter and designer is the new ‘Wolf Mate’ ambassador for the fresh TV drama series, Teen Wolf, the next big show of the popular supernatural action-romance genre.

Premiering Sunday, 17 July at 9pm on AXN Beyond, Teen Wolf stars Tyler Posey (Lincoln Heights, Brother and Sisters) as Scott, a hapless high school boy-turned-teenage werewolf. Suppressing his wolfish instincts and urges, Scott falls for the mysterious new girl in town, Allison (Crystal Reed, Skyline). And as it turns out, Allison’s father leads a family of werewolf hunters whom Scott must contend with, while fighting off other werewolves also out to get him.

As the face of Teen Wolf, Solenn will be promoting the dark and riveting series through an on-air and on-line campaign for AXN Beyond through to September 2011. “I had a sneak preview of the premiering episode of Teen Wolf and was absolutely smitten by its premise, characters and intensity. I can’t wait to see how the rest of the story unfolds on AXN Beyond! Its sexiness, great writing, humour and fresh-faced cast makes Teen Wolf different from the gamut of shows in the genre and it is one I would recommend my fans to enjoy with me,” said Solenn.

On the AXN Beyond channel, a series of stylish promos will spotlight Solenn in show introductions as well as reviews of various episodes to tease and engage viewers. In addition, on-air vignettes will also feature her sharing all things Teen Wolf, from exclusive interviews with the show’s cast members to her own lifestyle and fashion tips to ‘unleashing her wild side’.

Recruiting viewers online into her ‘Wolf Pack’ on her personal Facebook page, Solenn will reward her followers with specially produced and exclusive Teen Wolf-themed multimedia content via AXN Beyond’s official website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

Online, the Teen Wolf ‘Wolf Mate’ will post daily fun updates, interesting trivia and links via her personal Facebook and Twitter accounts. She will share her thoughts about the Teen Wolf series, announce viewer contests, and even share unreleased or behind-the-scenes video footage of the show.

For the campaign, Solenn will also sizzle in various exclusively shot picture sets that will be unveiled online each week to reward her ‘Wolf Pack’ members. And to give the Teen Wolf viewing experience extra bite, fans will have the opportunity to chat ‘live’ on Facebook with Solenn while catching selected episodes along with her.

“Through this interactive and engaging campaign, I wish to reach out on a more personal level to my fans and all viewers of AXN Beyond to share a fun and exciting viewing experience with me. It is my hope that everyone will join my ‘Wolf Pack’ on-air and on-line for an adventure into the wild side with Teen Wolf!” added Solenn.

On the campaign, Mr. Gregory Ho, Vice President, Communications, Digital & Marketing, English Content at Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia said, “Solenn is without doubt the hottest star of the moment. She is the perfect ‘Wolf Mate’ for the hottest new show on AXN Beyond this year. It is our hope that this collaboration with her will add a whole new dimension to the viewing experience and treasured relationship with our loyal viewers in the Philippines.”

The campaign for Teen Wolf featuring Solenn Heussaff began rolling out from 6 July on the AXN Beyond channel and its website, Facebook and Twitter pages, along with Solenn’s personal social networking media accounts.

Kathryn Bernardo, former Mara Clara star, will cast a spell on Wansapanataym's episode this Saturday.

ABS-CBN's hit Saturday TV program shares a story about a teenager who's out to confront typical teenage issues. Under the direction of Erick Salud, the episode revolves around the life of Jenny (Kathryn), a girl who comes from a poor family of magicians. Jenny was only two years old when a fairy granted her family with magical powers. Their special 'skill' helped them survive. As Jenny grows up, she starts to confront teenage issues like wanting to be popular and wanting to belong. As she struggles her way through teenage life, Jenny decides to join a talent contest where she can use her magic powers thinking that it will be one way to gain popularity. Though her parents were against her plan of joining, she still pursues. This is where the gap between Jenny and her parents begins to develop.

Kathryn will be sharing the small screen with Renz Fernandez, son of Lorna Tolentino and Rudy Fernandez. Other cast members include Lito Pimentel, Maricar De Mesa, and Perla Bautista.

Meanwhile, Wansapanataym retains leadership on its timeslot according to Kantar Media last Saturday, July 2. Earning a national rating of 22.8%, Wansapanataym beat GMA-7's Andres De Saya, which only got a 14.3% national rating.

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